Roster gets a big reduction today - 11 players

Published 4:00 am, Sunday, August 26, 2007

Tuesday is the deadline, but for the 49ers cut-down day comes 48 hours earlier. The club will make its first round of roster cuts to 75 today.

"There's no reason to make the kids wait," said Scot McCloughan, the club's vice president of player personnel. "We'll grade the tape (of the Chicago game) in the morning and make the moves."

The 49ers have 86 players on the roster. To reduce to 75, they will waive nine players and place two others on season-ending injured reserve. Those two are defensive end Melvin Oliver(knee) and wide receiver C. J. Brewer (knee).

The final roster cuts to 53 players must be made by Saturday. From 75 to 53 is the toughest purge for teams.

"The key is that it's handled professionally," said McCloughan, who said he and head coach Mike Nolan will speak to the players involved in the final cuts. "We're not going to keep a draft pick just because he's a draft pick if we feel he doesn't deserve to be on the team. And that's good. It means our roster is improving."

Too soon to call: The 49ers had planned to rotate Kwame Harrisand rookie Joe Staleyat right tackle against the Bears, but Staley ended up playing only 10 or so snaps, not enough for Nolan to pass judgment.

"I wouldn't make that decision right now," he said.

Injury report: Cornerback Donald Stricklandsustained a chest contusion that required further X-rays at a local hospital. The club said the X-rays were precautionary. Strickland left the stadium under his own power but did not fly home with the team. Elsewhere, Nolan said Derek Smithincurred a mild concussion but the linebacker disagreed, calling it only a "ding." Outside linebacker Jay Mooreis questionable with a chest contusion; tight end Billy Bajema (right ankle) and safety Vickiel Vaughn (shoulder contusion) are probable.

Boys' night out: The Bears' offensive linemen were spotted having dinner at Joe's seafood restaurant downtown Friday night. It's hard to miss a group of 10 large young men in a restaurant.

Final analysis: Asked his impression of the game, defensive veteran Smith said, "Disappointing. I wouldn't write home to mom about it." Running back Maurice Hickssaid, "You always want to come out and play hard. You want to go out and get in rhythm on offense. As we kept going, everything started to come together."

No longer No. 1: The 49ers annually led the NFL in miles traveled in the geographically goofy NFC West that also had teams in Atlanta, Charlotte, N.C., and St. Louis. Since realignment in 2002, the 49ers reduced their travel miles dramatically. This year, including preseason, they will travel 19,902 miles, good for No. 8 in the league.